Rutherford County -- May 22, 2026: Rutherford County deputies played a pivotal role in the recent arrest of a Charlotte homicide suspect in Bostic, highlighting successful inter-agency collaboration across North Carolina. The Rutherford County Sheriff's Office assisted in apprehending Taquawn Lewis, who faces first-degree murder charges in Mecklenburg County.
Lewis was wanted in connection with the killing of 16-year-old Joseph Samuel in Charlotte. Information developed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) indicated that Lewis had fled the Charlotte area and was believed to be hiding in Rutherford County.
Samuel was taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds where he later died.
The underlying homicide investigation originated in Charlotte, where CMPD detectives processed the crime scene and identified Lewis as the suspect, subsequently obtaining a first-degree murder warrant. Because CMPD lacks direct authority to serve warrants outside its jurisdiction, the assistance of Rutherford County deputies was crucial in apprehending Lewis.
Lewis is being held at the detention center in Mecklenburg.